his greatest talent is lying, shamelessly and endlessly with the straightest of faces
From Howard Kurtz's interview with Ari Fleischer on CNN's "Reliable Sources":
KURTZ: ... Do you see yourself as being an advocate for the press?
FLEISCHER: I do. And that's one of the hardest things for anybody to understand about the press secretary job. My job is to be their advocate inside here, to try to get more access, to try to have interviews and questions, things of that nature.
Anyone who believes that, please drop me a line; I've a bridge you might want to buy.
Before the interview started they aired a clip of Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show" talking about Fleischer's resignation, saying "Fleischer has earned a reputation as an evasive mouthpiece for the president, who stays on message using ambiguous half-truths or, as they're known at the Bush White House, freedom lies." You can see it here, thanks to Comedy Central.
[ via Romenesko ]
Comments
Why does the fake news show seem to be the only one telling the truth?
Posted by: Valarie | June 3, 2003 2:39 PM
Because comedy often reveals uncomfortable truths about ourselves, and can say the unsayable.
Here in the UK, we had a show called "Spitting Image" which ran through the eighties and early nineties. Throughout, Thatcher was portrayed as evil and manipulative while the press lionised her. I think it was Tiberius who said "Let them hate me, as long as they fear me".
Just a pity no-one keeps whispering "You are mortal" in Dubya's ear.
Posted by: Larry Lurex | June 5, 2003 7:20 AM